SAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 13, 2002—The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) announced today that the Tate Modern, London, will be the third and final venue in the international tour of Eva Hesse, the most complete exhibition ever of this important postwar artist’s work. The Tate Modern replaces the Whitney Museum of American Art, which withdrew from the tour late last year due to financial concerns.
“We are absolutely thrilled to ensure the broadest possible exposure for this historic exhibition. The Tate is an ideal venue for the project,” stated SFMOMA Co-Acting Director Ruth Berson, adding, “And I can’t say we’re too sad to be the sole U.S. venue for an exhibition that every committed art lover will want to see!”
Co-organized by Elisabeth Sussman, guest curator for SFMOMA, and Dr. Renate Petzinger from Museum Wiesbaden, Germany, Eva Hesse focuses on the artist’s materials, working methods and the relationship of her work to the art of her generation. The exhibition features approximately 150 of Hesse’s most significant paintings, sculptures and works on paper, including several key works acquired in recent years by SFMOMA. Unlike previous exhibitions of the artist’s work, Eva Hesse presents comprehensive groupings of her paintings and works on paper in proximity to her better-known sculptural works to offer a fuller understanding of how concepts and processes intersect in her chosen media. The works are drawn from private and public collections around the world and many have not been publicly shown in over two decades. Due to the extreme fragility of the works, it is unlikely they will be brought together again on this scale.
Eva Hesse is on view at SFMOMA through May 19; it will then travel to the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany (June 15 to October 13, 2002) and the Tate Modern, London (November 2002 through February 2003).
Eva Hesse is co-organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Museum Wiesbaden. Support for SFMOMA’s presentation has been generously provided by The Edward E. Hills Fund, The Henry Luce Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Chara Schreyer, Christie’s, Galerie Hauser & Wirth, Helen Hesse Charash, and The Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation. Additional support has been provided by Hessische Kulturstiftung and Nassauische Sparkasse/NASPA Stiftung “Initiative und Leistung.” Hotel Sponsor: The W San Francisco.